Someone please tell me. . .

When did my little brother become such a stud?   I had a little beach photo shoot this weekend. Behold:

Little Boo was looking pretty GQ himself:

Characteristics of a Leader: Aung San Suu Kyi

Note:  Hey! My name is Paige and I am the author of A Paige Turner.  I wrote this essay in my senior year of high school as an application for the Political Communications program at George Washington University. My writing was inspired largely by a Time Magazine article dedicated to Suu Kyi, which you can read here. 


I have noticed that this post receives numerous hits from across the world every day.  If you just happened to stumble upon this post, I encourage you to leave a comment below.  I would love to learn more about you and your thoughts about Suu Kyi as some sort of document of who this essay has reached.  Please comment and thank you for reading!

Characteristics of a Leader: Aung San Suu Kyi

In the bold opening line of her 1990 “Freedom from Fear” speech, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma's National League for Democracy, declared "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”

She went on to describe the three types of corruption her fellow citizens of the oppressed country of Burma most abhor: bhaya-gati--allowing fear to destroy all sense of right and wrong, dosa-gati--taking the wrong path to spite those against whom one bears ill will, and chanda-gati--deviation from the right path in pursuit of bribes or for the sake of those one loves.

 In light of her release on November 13, 2010 from yet another prolonged house arrest, Suu Kyi has caught my eye as a sincere and devoted leader who, throughout her rise to influence, has consistently taken the higher road as she has avoided these three paths to corruption. Although I do not know that I could ever exhibit the strength and wisdom Suu Kyi has demonstrated over the years, I hope to one day similarly dedicate myself to a worthy cause and pursue it with such selflessness.

In 1990, the same year in which she penned “Freedom from Fear," Aung San Suu Kyi stood as the nominee for Burma's National League for Democracy in the first open election the stifling military junta had held in years. Though beloved by the Burmese people, the military junta working behind the State Law and Order Restoration Council declared her to be a threat to the public peace and order and placed her under house arrest.

 Suu Kyi's confinement did not shake the confidence of the Burmese people in their passionate leader and her party overwhelmingly took the election with 83% of the seats in parliament. However, the junta turned a blind eye to these staggering results, and continued down their path of violence, unjust imprisonment, and suppression of the values of democracy.

 In opposition to the principle of bhaya-gati, Suu Kyi did not allow any fear she might have felt from this totalitarian form of government distort her sense of right and wrong. Routinely resisting the government ban on political gatherings of more than four people, she risked her life and her freedom in order to share her message of Democracy and hope for a brighter future with the Burmese people.

In my life, I seek to develop the moral courage to stand up for what I know to be true, despite opposition. I hope to exhibit Suu Kyi's conviction as I stand by my moral and ethical beliefs, and not allow the fear of rejection, ridicule, or physical or emotional harm prevent me from acting upon my sure knowledge.

Suu Kyi's release last November renewed her connection with the global media. In an interview with the BBC,  her political strategy was ascertained by a reporter who asked whether she wanted to see the military junta fall. Characteristic of her elegant and sincere manner, she replied “I don't want to see the military falling; I want to see them rising to dignified heights.”

Profoundly influenced by the nonviolent leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, Suu Kyi has avoided dosa-gati, or taking the wrong path to spite others. Rather than seeking to overtake the government by force, her life's work has been to prepare Burma for a nonviolent revolution, one in which the current leaders are educated and inspired to govern the country more justly.

I am particularly impressed that, as a female in a country where women traditionally have little power, Suu Kyi has not compromised her inherently feminine characteristics by attempting to intimidate or dominate Burma's horrifically oppressive government. What I learn from her example, is that aggression does not wield lasting influence. By seeking peaceful settlements, she has gained far more respect, and has been able to do much more good for her country. If I could take on any one of her characteristics, it would be this one: the ability to set emotions aside, and rationally and calmly discuss an issue with a conflicting party.

 This attribute is extremely advantageous, not only professionally, but personally as well. Suu Kyi stated:
“I don't think violence really pays, I think violence begets violence.” In the same way, Suu Kyi believes that empathy begets empathy. In any situation, like Suu Kyi, I hope to be able to counteract aggression and violence with empathy and peaceful demonstrations.

Of all of the sacrifices I could make for a cause, the most costly to me would be my family. The loss of food, home, and possessions would be nothing compared to the loss of those that are most dear to my heart.
During her time in Burma, Suu Kyi was faced with a new challenge: chanda-gati, corruption induced by desire through deviation from the right path for the sake of those one loves.

In 1972 she married Michael Aris, a well-known scholar she had met while attending the University of Oxford. They had two sons and settled in England, though Suu Kyi knew that at some point she would have to return to her native home. Suu Kyi unexpectedly returned to Burma in 1988 to aid her ailing mother and during her stay became involved with the National League for Democracy.  She quickly rose to the prominent position of General Secretary within this organization and, as a result, became a prisoner within her own homeland, held in bondage by a series of government-induced house arrests.

 For many years, she was isolated from her husband and sons in a country far away from her current residence. However, Suu Kyi's greatest challenge came in 1999 when she received word that her husband was dying from cancer. The government denied Aris permission to visit his wife during the last year of his life and Suu Kyi feared that the government would not let her return to the Burma if she left. Aris died without ever saying a final goodbye to her. Her desire to work for liberty and justice was so great that she could not deviate from her path, no matter how great the cost.

 This event stands as a touching embodiment of wholehearted dedication. I do not believe that I will ever be in a situation as brutally conflicted as this, but if I were motivated by her drive and unwavering determination, I can only imagine the goals I could reach and the lives I could touch.

In her “Freedom from Fear," Aung San Suu Kyi summarized her ideal revolution. She said, “The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit, born of an intellectual conviction of the need for change in those mental attitudes and values which shape the course of a nation's development. A revolution which aims merely at changing official policies and institutions with a view to an improvement in material conditions has little chance of genuine success.”

 Aung San Suu Kyi's immense influence as a leader is the result of this very philosophy:  not only should the government structure evolve, but the people too. Suu Kyi is leading this revolution of the spirit as she embodies the antithesis of bhaya-gati, dosa-gati, and chanda-gati by demonstrating great courage, empathy, and determination. These are qualities worthy of emulation by all of us. Her example inspires me to walk taller, speak out more frequently in support of my beliefs and values, focus more strongly on my goals, and show more compassion and understanding towards those who may disagree with or oppose me. In these things, I am determined to follow her example.

The Dream

This afternoon I laid down in pure exhaustion and fell into a deep three and half hour Sunday nap.

As the hours slipped by, I began to toss and turn. My room sweltered in the mid-July heat and beads of sweat pealed down from my hairline, cascading over my eyelid and quivering on the side of my nose. I woke periodically, turning over on my side to banish the distressing, murky dreams still fresh in my momentarily conscious mind.

I fell again into the quiet darkness of the unconscious. And suddenly everything became very clear. Clear and cool and bright, a sparkling pitcher of freshly stirred lemonade compared to the grainy coffee of my previous dreams. I was crossing a stream.

The current looked benign and the water seemed deep enough only to graze the bottoms of my knees. I took a step, and then another, delicately tip-toeing over the smooth but jutting pebbles covering the creek bottom. And then I was swept under.

It happened just like that. I had no fear of getting caught by a current and no foresight that sudden danger was ahead. I certainly had no idea of the seemingly sudden depth and darkness of the creek. My entire body was submerged and I hung suspended, weightless like a spaceman, face turned skyward beneath the surface of the water.

Shimmering sunlight filtered down towards me and I caught glimpses of trees and the sky as I was rushed along the creek's frantic course. The lack of oxygen was suffocating me; I felt as though a pillow was pressed against my mouth and nose. Every part of me screamed to fight the current, to break the surface, but I could no longer feel my limbs. Totally physically incapacitated, I was as helpless as a rag doll mistakenly caught in a whirlpool.

I thought of my friends and family on the creek shore. They could pull me out, but I doubted whether they could see me, and if they could, whether they could catch up with the distance the current had already swept me.

My head spun yet I refrained from the urge to inhale water. It was a losing battle. My heart seemed to swell up into my throat and the reflex to breathe became more and more undeniable.

And then, I burst from the water just as instantaneously as I had been pulled in. My eyes immediately flew open and I awoke. It was as though my only escape from the watery depths was in the conscious world.

One could psychoanalyze my dream. It would be easy to derive apparent fears and insecurities from this strange sequence.

But I can only think of the invisible power that lifted me from the depths and endowed me with new life-giving air when I had nothing else.

Enchanted

By this song.



I've been listening to it in loops thanks to a suggestion from my future roomie.  The melody has a strangely soothing yet haunting effect on me. My favorite part is the first line.  At first I thought he was singing "I bit my tongue in the awkward conversation." However, I was delighted to discover that the lyric is "I bit my tongue in the arc of conversation." Isn't that lovely?  I love that image.  Holding yourself back as a conversation crescendos and feeling the energy fall straight back to where you started from.

Polaroid

Tall, dark and handsome, what else does he need? Oh yeah, maybe some Poladroid! Some beachy portraits from my family's day at Little Bow Lake with some editing help from this sweet app. Even if you're not a fan of the "retro" photo quality, the little polaroid camera that appears on your desktop and shoots out your photos to allow them to "develop" in front of your eyes is so worth it. Download it here.

Prairie Life

We passed these stunning animals on the way to the family farm in Stavely, Alberta.  Yes, that's right, family farm! Turns out, I come from a line of cowboy-boot-and-buckle-wearing, true-blue ranchers making a hard-earned living on the sea of prairie grass.

After being tucked away in the hills of West Virginia for quite some time now, there was an amazing sense of openess and freedom that overwhelmed me as I stepped into the prairie. The sky has never appeared so wide, nor the horizon so distant. 

We visited a creek tucked away in a hidden valley well below the serenely flowing prairie grasses.  As the creek winds its way through the tree-shaded valley, it eventually widens and increases in enough depth to create a small swimming hole. 

Smooth, sandy cliffs contain the far side of the creek in this area, creating a soft contrast against the rich azure sky.  These cliffs host hundreds of bird's nests as well as flocks of avid cliff jumpers. Swallows and leaping children fill the air.

I love the stories of my Nana and Papa coming here as children.  I imagine them splashing in the crisp, tan water, oblivious to the way their live's paths would flow together.

Both of them with no idea of the way their children and grandchildren would travel for miles to reach the fabled swimming hole where their grandparents once swam after a long, hot week on the farm.

It makes me look forward to the day when I will look back and smile at the things I never could have guessed would happen. A day when my past is remembered by my children and grandchildren.  Perhaps another day on the prairie.

Summer Reading

Just finished:

This book was beautifully written. The author gave care to each word, artistically building witty and insightful descriptions of the life and mental state of a collegiate runner consumed by his sport.  I found myself laughing at the subtly humourous passages and reading unusual and delicious descriptions out loud to anyone around me.  Be warned, Once A Runner contained a lot more profanity than I expected, showing up in most of the dialouges. However, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the work.

A gem from the novel:

"It is simply that we can all be good boys and wear our letter sweaters around and get our little degrees and find some nice girl to settle, you know, down with...Or we can blaze! Become legends in our own time, strike fear in the heart of mediocre talent everywhere! We can scald dogs, put records out of reach! Make the stands gasp as we blow into an unearthly kick from three hundred yards out! We can become God's own messengers delivering the dreaded scrolls! We can race dark Satan himself till he wheezes fiery cinders down the back straightaway....They'll speak our names in hushed tones, 'those guys are animals' they'll say! We can lay it on the line, bust a gut, show them a clean pair of heels. We can sprint the turn on a spring breeze and feel the winter leave our feet! We can let our demons loose and just wail on!"

Now who wouldn't want to go for a run after that?

Still ebbing away at:

I've been reading this book since December, but that doesn't mean it's slow reading. It's just really, really long-- and justly so, her life has been one long adventure.  Madam Secretary is (in my limited scope of reading), the best autobiography I've delved into.  This book has all of the components:  fascinating foriegn policy, touching personal accounts, and wildly funny anecdotes involving some of the world's greatest leaders. I've been so inspired by Madeleine Albright that after reading about her experiences at Wellesley College, I went ahead and applied.

Just started:

A classic!  I can't believe I haven't read it before.  It's a short book (a novella), and reads somewhat like a story book with no chapters to break up the prose.  I think I will finish it quickly and the move on to:

I have a deep love for futuristic dystopian novels that I hope this will feed.

And then:

It's been sitting on my shelf long enough that I want to break into it and let the story free.

 Hopefully I can get through most of these this month so I can fit in the rest of my list!  Dad and I are watching The Great Gatsby tonight, I'll see whether it inspires me to read the book or not.

The Ranch

We stayed at a close family friend's ranch in Southern Alberta this week and I managed to get my hands on a camera for the first time in a long while.  I couldn't let these beautiful scenes escape me.  Something about jagged mountains, flowing waves of grass, and sweet little blue-doored cabins tucked away in secret meadows fill me with elation and a delicious sense of mystery.  The camera is my eye to the bubbling life and piercing yet elusive sense of reminiscence beneath it all.  If only I could capture it better.

More to follow.